Regional ABS Capacity- Building Workshop for Eastern and Southern Africa, Addis Ababa October 2 nd -6 th, 2005 Bioprospecting for enzymes in protected areas of Kenya
Peter Munyi Southern Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (SEAPRI) International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Name and type of genetic resource Industrially useful enzymes from soil and water samples collected from protected areas
Actors involved The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) (Kenya) International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Diversa Corporation (USA)
How the genetic resource is used Various uses (potential). Some collections have shown potential activity There is no known traditional knowledge in the use
Type/kind of ABS Agreement A head Collaborative Agreement (KWS-ICIPE) Renewable Tripartite Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) (KWS-ICIPE- Diversa)
Agreed benefits in the agreement Monetary: (Annual fees, salaries for collectors, royalties and milestone payments) Non-Monetary: equipment, training, joint publications, joint ownership of patents etc)
Benefits realised to date Monetary: Annual fees, royalties, staff salaries, milestone payments) Non-monetary: equipment, training, joint publications, joint ownership of patents etc)
Direct contribution to poverty alleviation if any Closest is by offering employment and skills
Lessons learned to date Formally structured and negotiated activities are easy to monitor on what is collected. The recipient in this case does not do actual collections. The MTA has in-built audit mechanisms. Fixed and variable BS arrangements work. Questions are to whether the benefits realized are enough always arise but, all the parties in this case are happy.
What changes at the local, national and/or international level would significantly have made a difference regarding BS and poverty alleviation? At the National level: Existence of a clear legal framework to regulate collections/access is useful, but even in its absence things may still work.
At the International level: An International instrument to regulate ABS is useful as it will act as a guide and also deal in a way, jurisdiction issues as in most of the cases, bioprospecting arrangements involve parties from different countries and legal jurisdictions
Questions and/or comments?? Thank you!!